Concrete-form clamping apparatus



Aug. 19, 1930. s. s. COLT CONCRETE FORM CLAMPING APPARATUS 2 Sheets--Sheet 1 Filed July 2, 1929 IN VEN TOR.

ATTORNEY I Aug. 19, 1930.

S. S, COLT CONCRETE FORM CLAMPING APPARATUS Filed July '2, 1929 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Samuel 5;

IN V EN TOR. air,

an, A A TTORNEY Patented Aug 19, 1930 SAMUEL S COLT, OE ORA1 IGE,NEWJERSEY q me reee rmmem ermee s 'epvi e nfi ea my a 922- Se al v s *Thisinvention relates to improved adjustahlc clamping devices for locking'forinwalls, used in pouring concrete, in operative as- "seinbledrelation. i

This invention ject to provide a novel construction and arrangement ofmeans for adjustably mounting on the form-wall retaining bars tighteningwedge devices adapted to line up and lock said retaining bars in holdingrelation to the form walls. To this end thetightening wedge devicesinclude a wedge. carrier, having means to receive anend of a retainingbar, and neansto lock said carrier against displacement from its initialadjusted position on the retaining bar, together with a wedge movablyrelated to said carrier but normally non-separable therefrom;

This invention has for furthlobjects the provision ofimprovements inthestructure whereby the wedge ismovah'ly related to its carrier, wherebyfirm bearing support for the operative end of the wedge is provided aspart of the'carri'er; and the provision of .a construction of wedgecarriers and associated wedgeswhich may be conjointly used in pairs ,tomutually "support each other in producing the desiredti'ghteningstresses on the retaining bars, or which maybe used singly inconjunction with a wedge abutment block;. all whereby the retaining barsmay he squarely and tightly set up holding relation :to the assembledform walls about which they extend.

Other objects of thisinvention, having to V do with more detailedimprovements in the structure and design of the novel wedge car riersand associated wedge s, and not at this time more particularly enumeratewill he ill lie e od f m he fe lo in etaile descriptionofthesame.

Illustrative embodiments efthis invention m ws int iiia eexepaey esdrawin s in Pie 1 i a p nfv mw n he e el g ri r fled esses e d W dg smeed We ls rin r te ins t nd e -ed in pairs l 3@I mutuallyfepoperateprovide thrust abutments for the wedges, all, arranged in holdingrelahas for its-principal oh for retaining the wedge thereof against.disand 12 the other set ofii'orm walls whichare 'tion to assembled formwalls; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary edge elevation, on an enlarged scale,viewed in the .d1rect1on ofthe arrow 09 n Fig; 1; Fig. 3 1s anenlargedplan view of a carrier and'its associated wedge as mounted 55 'usedsingly in conjunction with wedge abutment blocks; and Fig. 7 isa'fraginentarysectional View, taken on line 7-7, in Fig; ,6.

" Fig. 8 is a-plan View of a carrier and'its wedge showing a modifiedmeans for fixing the carrier in desired adjusted position on a retainingbar; Fig. 9 is a similar view showing another'arrangement for fixing thecar? rier 1n des1redad u sted pos tion on a'retain- -ing']oar; and Fig.10 is a plan view of a carrier and its wedge showing a modified meansassembly therefrom.

* Similar characters'oireference are "employed in" all the vhereinabovedescribed views, to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to'the drawings, the reference character 11 indicates one setof form walls 0 arranged at right a'ngles'to the walls 10, so as toprovide a mold or formof rectangular section, such as'is employed inpouringconcrete piers, columns and similar structures.

The "form clamping apparatus, according to this invention, comprisesretaining bars 13, 14,15 and 1 6 of lengths exceeding thelateraldimensions of the form, thesame being adapted to hedispos'edrespectively around the respective form walls, with their adjacentintersecting ends overlapping, Adjacent overlapping ends 'of'theretaining bars 13-414 are isuit secured together by any suitable meansadapted tofreta i'n the same from sep;

aration at such-points. Illustrative of one method ofsosecuringsaidbars,-'I have shown, in Fig. 1, the ends of tjhe'harsprovidedwith perforations 17, so that a perforation- 055.011 "bar mayheregistered with a perforation of the other barfand thereupon a holdingpin or the like 18 passed therethrough to thus secure the bars againstrelative displacement. In like manner, adjacent overlapping ends of theretaining bars 16 are secured together by registered perforations 17through which are passed a holding pin 18.

VVit-h the retaining bars arranged as above set forth, the free ends ofthe bars 1316 will overlap in intersecting relation, and on these freeends are then disposed the wedge earriers and wedges of the clampingdevices.

Each clamping device comprises a wedge carrier consisting in a main body19 longitudinally apertured to provide a passage 20 therethrough toreceive a retaining bar whereby the wedge carrier is adjustably movableon the latter. Connected .with the inner side of said main body 19 is alaterally projecting boss or neck 21, through which extends aninternally threaded opening 22 terminating at its inner end incommunication with the passage 20. Threaded into said opening 22 is aset screw 23 which may be tightened to bind against a side of theretaining bar to thus hold the main body 19 in locked adjusted positionon the latter. Integrally formed with the outer side portion of the mainbody 19 is a longitudinal portion arranged so as to form the outer sidewall 24 of the passage 20, and extending longitudinally forward beyondthe inner end of the main body 19, so as to lie against the outer edgeof a retaining bar extending through said body 19, thereby also forminga wedge bearing 24. Extending laterally beyond the outer side portion ofthe main body 19 are spaced wing-plates 25 to provide a supportingslideway for an adjustable wedge member 26, which is disposed to extendthrough the slideway with its straight edge slidably bearing on the sidewall 24 and wedge bearing 24', and withv its oblique edge outward. Inorder to retain said wedge member 26 in the described assembled relationto the carrier, and yet free for longitudinal movement, cooperative maleand female keeper means are provided. In one form the female kee ermeans which is I o I provided 1n -the wedge body, comprises a de pressedlongltudlnal channel or groove 27 I which is counter-sunk in a face ofthe wedge,

and the male keeper means, which is provided in connection with thecarrier, comprises atongue or lug 28 struck downwardly out of theoverlying wing-plate25, so that its free end engages in said channel orgroove 27.. It will be obvious that the int-erengagement of thedescribed male and female parts will retain the wedge'against separationfrom the carrier, while nevertheless permitting adequate longitudinalmovement of the same. A modifiedconstruction and arrangement ofcooperative male and female keeper means for retaining a wedge inassembledrelation to its carrier is shown in Fig.10, wherein the wedgemember 26 is cut away along a portion of its outer side'to provide alongitudinally indented marginal way 29, and wherein the outer marginalfree end portion of wing-plate 25 is bent over to provide lip 30 enteredin said way 29 of the wedge. This arrangement likewise retains the wedgeagainst separation from the carrier, while nevertheless permittingadequate longitudinal movement thereof.

Extending longitudinally of the Wedge member 26 is a row of spacedperforations 31, for purposes subsequently mentioned.

Integrally connected with the inner end of the main body 19 of thecarrier is a horizontally off-set clip-member 32, which, when thecarrier is placed upon a retaining bar, provides a receiving space inwhich may be engaged a portion of overlapping retaining bar, so that thethus associated bars are held against separation in vertical plane onefrom the other.

In applying the clamping devices to overlapping free end portions ofretaining bars so that the former are related in mutually cooperativerelation, as shown in Fig. 1, and, for example, as applied to the bars13-16 in said Fig. 1, the body member 19 of one clamping device isengaged over the end of the bar 16 and the body member 19 of the otherclamping device, in reversed position, is engaged over the end of thebar 13. The clamping devices are then moved or slid inwardly on therespective bars so that the wedge 26 of one will abut against the body19 of the other, said wedges being each drawn outward to an initialnon-wedging po sition. As thus arranged the wedges will respectively liein overlapping planes and in intersecting relation. This preliminarypositioning of the clamping devices is effected while the set-screws 23are relaxed, and may be rapidly and easily accomplished since the mainbodies 19 are then freely 'slidable on their respective bars 13-16. 7hen the clamping devices have been thus positioned, the set-screws 23are tightened, thus locking the main bodies against displacing movementrelative to the bars on which they are respectively mounted. Anadvantage of the structure, having the set-screw form of looking means,is that the preliminary positioning of the clamping devices may be suchas to bring all the parts of the latter into snug cooperative relationeven with the wedges 26 drawn to their outward limit of movement orfullyrelaxed, and consequently the maximum tightening effect of thewedges, when the sameare driven home is obtainable, with out loss of aportion of the wedge thrust required to take upinitial slack between thecooperating clamping devices.

l/Vhen the clamping devices have been set up and locked in initialcooperative relation, the wedges 26 are driven inwardly, whereby thewedge on the clamping device mounted on the bar l3 thrusts outwardly onthe clamp ing daemon the bar 1 6, and vice versa, thus drawing the barstightlyaround the form. i It will be understood that a pair of clamp.-ing devices mutually cooperative in the manner above described are alsomounted on the free overlapping ends of the barslt and 15, and that thesame will be diagonally opposed to the first mentioned set ofclamp-ingdevices; consequently when, both sets are tightened up bymanipulating their wedges the effect will be to draw or contract all thebars into a form and tight encircling orembracing relation to the formwalls.

After-the wedges of the clamping devices are driven home they may belocked against relaxation in any suitable manner, for example, either bypassing a lock-pin 33- through holes in the Wing plates 25 and through aregistered perforation31 of thewedge, or by oassin such a lock in 33throiwh re isl 2: P n r:

tered perforations 31 positioned at the intersection of said wedges.

Preferably each. wedge 26' is provided at its outer .ior rearw ard endwith an enlarged head-portion 34, the inner shoulder of which.forms'a-stop which, on abutting a p'ortionot the main body member ofthe carrier to which it is attached, serves to limit the inward movementof the wedge. Additionally said head portion 34 provides an enlargedportion well calculated to receive and withstand the blows administeredto. the wedge when driving the latter home to desired tighteningpomarginal notches 35, and the free end of the bearing member 2 1, whichabuts the outer a edgefof the bar, may be provided with an inwardlyprojected spur .orlug 36. The passage 20 of the body 19 of the carrierin this ease, is made of a width exceeding that of the bar, so thatlateral play of the body relatime to the bar is possible, suflicient topermit disengagement of the spur or lug 36 from a notch 35, so thatlongitudinal adjustment of the 19 on the bar may beattained'andselectiye-engagement ofthe spur or lug 36 with ag ven notch 35,according to the required disposal of the body in initialaset upposition on the bar. Agaim for' example, as

shown in Fig. Qiapother form of carrier lock ng meansmay be ut1l1zed,the,same comprising the prov sion in the bar of long tudr ial'lyspasd pfor n 3 5 w t al gn perforations inthe horizontal wallsgoff the bodypass ge .20 ith wh h el e P iration1-37- may be registered so that aholding Pin may be passed through the parts to retain the same againstrelative movement.

. InFigsUfi and '7 I have shownthe novel clamping device's arranged insingle unit relation at each corner of a form and in cooperatiyerelation with a wedge abutment block. The form,- in such case, maycomprise thewalls 11 and 12, and the retaining bars lg l, 15 and 16areemployedvto ex tend around or embrace the form walls. A singleclamping device comprising the wedge carrier and its associated wedge ismounted onanend oft-he bar 16 adjacent to the point where theolatterioverlaps and intersects an end of: the bar-13, and the clampingdevice is locked on the bar 16 in initial holding posi- I tion.Mountedon the adjacent end of the bar 13 is an abutment block 39, thelatter having a longitudinal passage through which the 7 bar 13'extends,rand' a set-screw 140 laterally threaded thereinto to fix theabutmentbloek in operative position. The inner end of the abutment block39 has an oblique portion 3&1 corresponding to the angle ofinclinationof the outer margin of the 'wedge 26. a In practice, afterthe carrier is fixed on the bar 16 and its wedge member 26' outwardlywithdrawn to relaxed position, the abutment block 39 is slid up on thebar 13 until its oblique portion 41 engages the wedge membeligfi,whereupon the abutmei it block is secured against displacement by,screwinghome the seta I screw 450.. A carrier andassociated wedge with'cooperatingabutment block 39 is fixed, I in like manner, to theoverlapping and intersecting ends of the bars 13 and 14, 1a and 15, and15 and 16, thus providing a clamping structure at each corner'of theform. oWhen the clampingdevices arethus-initially set' up therespectivewedgemembers 26 may be driven inward; to thereby contract the bars aboutthe"form.walls and intotight holding relation thereto. The wedge;members are then locked against relaxation by passmg holding, pinsthrough thawing plates 25 of .thewedge carriers: and through aper foravtion 131 of the'wedge, as alreadyabove ex.- plained 7 H i Inthenovel construction of zwedge carrier and associated wedge,theprovision con;- nection' with the formerot the wedge hearingportionfletris of considerable advantage;

first, for thereason thatit permits the body mem er 1 of; the ca ie tentir ly mbrace of. encircle the'barhon which-it is mounted an.SfiQOBdi'lbfiCW i pr ide a St! aadtr e bear ng- --suprert ag inst'i iwed e WW slide; and as a d 'f rom ing'the Wedge i was a t; or batte g jof tlf ewbars I am aware "that some .cha

gl t- Ig ne ili a range en s a he vari us de ice and P detailsbfthecqnstli k 1 d rei g faem hssceeeeithis i.

self to the exact details of the construction of said parts asillustrated in the accompanying drawings.

I claim Y 1.. In a form clamping apparatus having retaining bars togirdle the form with their adjacent end portions in overlapped relation,wedge carriers each comprising a main body having a passage therethrough to receive a retaining bar end portion, means for fixing said mainbody against movement on the bar,

a clip on said main body to engage over the adjacent overlapping bar,said main body including a wedge bearing portion extending along an edgeof the bar on which said main body is mounted, a wedge slidably disposedagainst said bearing portion, means/for retaining said wedge inassembled relation to said main body but free for wedging movement, andmeans on an adjacent overlapping retaining bar against which said wedgemay thrust.

2. In form clamping apparatus having re- I taining bars to girdle theform with their adjacent end portions in overlapped relation, wedgecarriers each comprising a main body having a passage therethrough toreceivea retaining bar end portion, means for fixing said main bodyagainst movement on the bar,

1 a clip on said main body to engage over the adjacent overlapping bar,said main body including a wedge bearing portion extending along an edgeof the bar on which said main body is mounted, a wedge slidably disposedagainst said bearing portion,'me'ans for retaining said wedge inassembled relation to said main body but free for wedging movement, andmeans on an adjacent overlapping retaining bar against which said Wedgemay thrust, and means for retaining a tightened wedge againstrelaxation.

3. In a form clamping apparatus, retaining bars to girdle the form withtheir adjacent end portions in overlapped relation,means for securingcertain overlapping end portions of said. retaining bars together, wedgecarriers engageable in mutually cooperative relation on remainingoverlapping end por tions of saidretaining bars, each wedge car-- riercomprising a main body having a passage therethrough to receive aretaining bar end portion, means for fixing said. main body againstmovement on the bar, a clip on said main body to engage over the adjacent overlapping bar, said mainbody further including a wedge bearing.portion extending along an edge of the bar on which said main body 7 ismounted, a wedge slidably disposed against said bearing portion,- andmeansfor retaining aeeo said wedge in assembled relation to said mainbody but free for Wedging movement, said wedge carriers on adjacentoverlapping retaining bar end portions being cooperatively associatedwhereby the wedge of one thrusts against the main body of the other.

4. In a form clamping apparatus, retaining bars to girdle the form withtheir adjacent end portions in overlapped relation, means for securingcertain overlapping end portions of said retaining bars together,

wedge carriers engageable in mutually'cooperative relation on remainingoverlapping end portions of said retaining bars, each wedge carriercomprising a main body having a passage therethrough to receive aretaining bar end portion, means for fixing said mainbodyagainstmovement on the bar, a clip on said main body to engage overthe adjacent overlapping bar, said main body further including a wedgebearing portion extending along an edge of the bar on which said mainbody is mounted, a wedge slidablydisposed against said bearing portion,means for retaining said wedge in assembled relation to said main bodybut free for wedging movement, said wedge carriers on adjacentoverlapping retaining bar end portions being cooperatively associatedwhereby the wedge of one thrusts against the main body of the other,and. means for retaining said wedges when tightened against relaxation.

5. In a form clamping apparatus, retaining bars to girdle the form withtheir adjacent end portions in overlapped relation, means for securingcertain overlapping end portions of said retainingbars together, wedgecarriers engageable in mutually cooperative relation on remainingoverlapping, end portions of said retaining bars, each wedge carriercomprising a main body having a passage therethrough to receive aretaining bar end portion, a set screw threaded through one side of saidmain body engageable with the bar to lock said main body againstmovement thereon, a clip on said main body to engage over the adjacentoverlapping'bar, sa-id'main body further including at its opposite sidea wedge bearing portion extending along an edge of the bar on which saidmain body is mounted, a wedge slidably disposed against said bearingportion, and means for retaining said wedge in assembled relation tosaid main body but free for wedging movement, said wedge carriers onadjacent overlapping retaining bar end portions being cooperatlvelyassociated whereby the wedge of one thrusts against the main body of theother.

i 6. In a formclamping apparatus, retaining bars to girdle the form withtheir adjacent end portions in overlapped relation, means for securingcertain overlapping end portions of said retainingbars together, wedgecan riers engageable in mutually cooperative re: lation on remainingoverlapping end portions of said retaining bars, each Wedge carriercomprising a mam body havmg a passage side of said main body engageableWith the bar to lock said main body against movement thereon, a clip onsaid main body to engage over the adjacent overlapping bar, said mainbody further including at its opposite side a Wedge bearing portionextending along an edge of the bar on which said main body is mounted, aWedge slidably disposed against said bearing portion, means forretaining said Wedge in assembled relation to said main body but freefor Wedging movement, said Yvvedge carriers on adjacent overlappingretaining bar end portions being cooperative- 1y associated whereby theWedge of one thrusts against the main body of the other, and means forretaining said Wedges When tightened against relaxation.

7. AWedge carrier for engagement on retaining bars of form clampingapparatus,

comprising a main body having a passage therethrough to receive a bar,means for fixing said main body against movement of the bar, a Wedgebearing portion connected wlth I "said main body to extend along an edgeof the bar, a Wedge slidably disposed against said bearing portion,means for retaining said mainbody against movement on the bar,

and said main bodyfurther including an ofi' set clip to engage a baroverlapping .said first mentioned bar.

10. A Wedge carrier for engagement on retaining bars of form clampingapparatus, comprising a main body having a passage therethrough toreceive a bar, a set screw threaded through one sideof said main bodyengageable with said bar to lock said main body against movementthereon, a Wedge bearing portion at the opposite side of said main bodyto extend along an edge of the bar, wedge supporting means laterallyprojecting beyond said bearing portion, a Wedge slidably mounted in saidsupporting means and slidably disposed against said bearing portion,said supporting means and Wedge having cooperative male and female meansto retain said Wedge in assembled relation to said main body but freefor vvedging movement, and said main body further including anoif-setclip to engage a bar overlapping said first mentioned bar.

In testimony, that I claim the invention set forth above I have hereuntoset my hand this 29th day of June, 1929.

7 SAMUEL S. COLT,

said wedge in assembled relation to said main 1 body but free forWedging movement, and said main body further including an off-set clipto engage a bar overlapping said first mentioned bar.

8. A Wedge carrier for engagement on retaining bars of form clampingapparatus, comprising a main body having apassage therethrough .toreceive a bar, a wedge bearing portion at one side of said main body toextend along an edge of the bar, Wedge supporting means laterallyprojecting beyond said bearing portion, a Wedge slidably mounted in saidsupporting means and slidably disposed against said bearing portion,said supporting means and wedge having cooperative male and female meansto retain said wedge in assembled relation to said main body but freefor Wedging movement, and means for fixing said main body againstmovement on the bar.

9. A wedge carrier for engagement on retaining bars of form clampingapparatus,

comprisingamain body having a passage therethrough to receive a bar, aWed ebearing portion at one side of said main ody to extend along anedge of the bar, wedgesupporting means laterally projecting beyond saidbearing portion, a Wedge slidably mounted in said supporting means andslidabl disposed against said bearing portion, sai supporting means andedge having cooperative male and female means to retain said Wedge inassembled relation to said main body but free for vvedging movement,means for fixing

